Picture Book March Madness: The Elite Eight

And then there were eight. The results from the second round of voting are in, and it was a nail-biter. Instead of making way for ducklings, we should probably have made them some tiny flipper-shaped snowboots! The Snowy Day was just too much for them. The Giving Tree managed to erase Harold and the Purple Crayon from the running—a waxy chore—but The Day the Crayons Quit made up for it with their colorful victory over Elephant and Piggie. Meanwhile, The Very Hungry Caterpillar gobbled up the mouse and his cookie, and The Lorax out-witted The Tale of Peter Rabbit. That, or bunnies are allergic to Grickle-grass.

Lilaia Kairis, our Director of Digital Services, sat down with her five-year-old son, Nico, to find out which Round Two winner he'll be rooting for in Round Three.

Ready for bed in his rocketship pajamas, Nico reads aloud from his March Madness pick, The Day the Crayons Quit.

"I like all the books that I have," he said, feigning impartiality. Despite having read The Very Hungry Caterpillar "a hundred times" and chuckling with amusement at the memory of Corduroy's escalator-ride, his favorite seems to be The Day the Crayons Quit. "It's funny, and I love it!" he exclaimed, before giggle-reading the whole thing using distinct voices for each crayon. Nico also heartily recommends its sequel, The Day the Crayons Came Home.

"Even though we've read it countless times now, it still makes him laugh out loud," says Lilaia. "What's better than that?" Of Oliver Jeffers' illustrations, Lilaia extols their ability to support the story and convey character. "They really make you feel like you're seeing Duncan's artwork and getting to know him a little bit." Sentient crayons aside, it's also a relatable story. "In our house, some crayons are definitely more overworked than others, so a lot of the humor rings true for us!"

Are you ready for the third round of voting? We're down to the Elite Eight—it's time to declare a winner in each conference. Which Caldecott Medalist will shine brightest? Which Animal Tale will roar loudest? Which is the most Colorful Classic? And which Enchanting Newcomer will bind us in its spell? Examine the matchups in the bracket below, and cast your votes in the embedded form.

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